March 19, 2012
One of the most striking recent medical developments is difficult to talk about, but it’s timely and important. Cancers of the tongue and throat, all categorized as oropharyngeal cancers, are appearing at an epidemic rate! These cancer types were previously seen almost exclusively in older people who smoked and drank to excess. This is no longer true. Now the most common cause of cancer of the tonsil and tongue is Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). That’s right, the sexually transmitted disease. And it is occurring in ever younger people of all socioeconomic classes. But now comes the squeamish part. The increased rate of this cancer directly parallels the evolution in sexual practices that have occurred within our society over the past 40 years. The risk factor most strongly associated with this cancer is a history of performing oral sex and oral-anal contact. That’s because the tonsils in the back of the throat are fertile ground for this virus.
February 7, 2012
Certain oral cancers have declined by more than 50 percent thanks to decreases in tobacco use. Meanwhile, HPV related head, neck and throat cancers have exploded along with the popularity of oral sex (and deep kissing).
January 2, 2012
The finding that HIV treatment with antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) can actually prevent transmission of the virus from an infected person to his or her uninfected partner has been named “Breakthrough of the Year” for 2011 by the journal Science.
November 2, 2011
A related study, led by Dr. Palefsky’s coauthor Dr. Anna Guiliano of the Moffitt Cancer Center also shows that Gardasil effectively protects both heterosexual men and MSM against the viral types that cause HPV related genital warts. Other studies show the vaccine does the same for women.
October 25, 2011
Anyone can get the flu but rates of infection are highest in children. In contrast, the risk for complications, hospitalizations and death occur more often in adults over 65 and those individuals who have some of the medical conditions listed above. Influenza should not be taken lightly. There are an average of 226,000 influenza related hospitalizations and approximately 36,000 influenza related deaths that occur annually in the U.S !
October 17, 2011
After a slow start when they were first introduced, female condoms, sold under several brand names (Reality FC2 is the market leader) are becoming more widely used by both straight and gay couples to prevent STD’s from vaginal and anal intercourse, as well as by straight couples to prevent pregnancy.
October 13, 2011
By Healthy Living News A new study shows dramatic improvement in the ability of those with HIV to control virus resistant to older antivirals. The study, published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, show that keeping drug resistant virus under control is due to the arrival of new antivirals that are more tolerable, easier to use, [...]
September 8, 2011
Visiting your same-sex-partner in the hospital without a bureaucratic hassle just got easier thanks to new government regulations. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced new enforcement of rules that protect hospital patients’ rights to choose their own visitors during a hospital stay, including a visitor who is a same-sex domestic partner. The rules update enforcement of the health and safety standards for all hospitals that participate in Medicare and Medicaid.
June 2, 2011
Today marks 30 years since the first report of a mysterious and deadly new syndrome that would come to be known as AIDS was published in CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). At the time, no one could have predicted the enormous toll the disease would take—claiming the lives of more than 500,000 Americans and many millions worldwide. Today we remember those we have lost, and honor them by recommitting ourselves to the fight against this deadly yet preventable disease.
June 1, 2011
You would think that doctors would feel pretty cocky by now about HIV. We can test for the virus and tell you how much of it there is and what it’s done to the immune system, we have a slew of drugs to control it, and we can treat the cancers and most of the infections. But the little SOB still has effects we don’t understand, so it can still blindside us sometimes.
